2. This PowerPoint presentation shows you how to use the NRM 1.0.xls Excel Workbook to fit several popular regression models to experimental data. The models may be used to estimate nutritional requirements or the economically optimal feeding levels of critical nutrients.

3. Experiments designed to estimate nutritional requirements result in a series of ordered pairs of data, the observed points. The points come from feeding several concentrations of the limiting nutrient, with all other nutrients present in adequate amounts. The measured responses may include growth, feed efficiency, carcass lean accumulation, egg and milk production, etc. OBSERVED POINTS

4. Nutritional response data are often interpreted in several different ways: Multiple Range Tests “Broken-Line” or Spline Models Non-Linear Continuous Models Quadratic Polynomials Saturation Kinetics Others

5. A E D BC AB A A A MULTIPLE RANGE TEST There are several multiple range tests that may be used to determine which responses are significantly different from the maximum response. More conservative multiple range tests will only indicate that large differences are ‘significantly different’, and therefore suggest that lower input levels result in maximum responses. The result is lower requirement estimates with more conservative multiple range tests. But higher requirement estimates are generally considered more conservative by nutritionists.

6. A E D BC AB A A A MULTIPLE RANGE TEST There are several multiple range tests that may be used to determine which responses are significantly different from the maximum response. More conservative multiple range tests will only indicate that large differences are ‘significantly different’, and therefore suggest that lower input levels result in maximum responses. The result is lower requirement estimates with more conservative multiple range tests. But higher requirement estimates are generally considered more conservative by nutritionists. The “ requirement ” is between the input levels that give maximum and sub-maximum responses ?

7. QUADRATIC POLYNOMIAL Quadratic, or second order, polynomials are easy to fit to input-output data sets using ordinary least squares methods. They fit most data sets fairly well. Quadratic polynomials have no ability to represent a plateau. A higher order polynomial should fit data with a plateau better.

8. QUADRATIC POLYNOMIAL Quadratic, or second order, polynomials are easy to fit to input-output data sets using ordinary least squares methods. They fit most data sets fairly well. Quadratic polynomials have no ability to represent a plateau. A higher order polynomial should fit data with a plateau better. The “ requirement ” is the nutrient input level that gives the maximum output level, or response.

9. BROKEN LINE –LINEAR ASCENDING Broken-Line Models are commonly fitted to nutritional response data. These models are also called “spline” models where one segment has a slope of zero. Broken-Line Models allow for a plateau, but cannot model toxic levels should the nutrient input level become excessive. The ascending segment is a first order, or straight line.

10. BROKEN LINE – LINEAR ASCENDING Broken-Line Models are commonly fitted to nutritional response data. These models are also called “spline” models where one segment has a slope = 0. Broken-Line Models have a feature for a plateau, but not toxic levels should the nutrient input level become excessive. The ascending segment is most often a first order, or straight line. The “ requirement ” is the lowest nutrient input level that gives the maximum output level, or response.

11. BROKEN LINE – QUADRATIC ASCENDING Another form of spline model has a second order polynomial for the ascending segment. It has the same features as the first order model except for the curved ascending segment. The curved ascending segment more realistically represents biological responses.

12. BROKEN LINE – QUADRATIC ASCENDING Another form of spline model has a second order polynomial for the ascending segment. It has the same features as the first order model except for the curved ascending segment. The curved ascending segment more realistically represents biological responses. The “ requirement ” is the lowest nutrient input level that gives the maximum output level, or response.

13. There are a large number of possible non-linear response models that can be fitted to nutritional response data. The NRM.xls Workbook fits several logistics, compartmental and exponential models. The example shown here is the Saturation Kinetics Model. This model asymptotically approaches the maximum, so the maximum is never reached. SATURATION KINETICS

14. There are a large number of possible non-linear response model that can be fitted to nutritional response data. The NRM.xls Workbook fits several logistics, compartmental and exponential models. The example shown here is the Saturation Kinetics Model. This model asymptotically approaches the maximum, so the maximum is never reached. SATURATION KINETICS The “ requirement ” for maximum output is not defined with models that approach, but never attain, a maximum. ?

15. Many non-linear models exhibit “The law of diminishing returns” or “The law of diminishing marginal productivity”. Economic theory must be applied to these models to find the feeding level (Input) that maximizes profits (not necessarily the maximum output level). This example is from a 1955 book “The Scientific Feeding of Chickens”

16. With diminishing returns models, the “ requirement ” is for maximizing profits instead of maximizing performance

17. H.J. Almquist Poultry Science 32:1001(1953) APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF DIMINISHING RETURNS TO ESTIMATION OF B-VITAMINS REQUIREMENTS OF GROWTH "The principles described are not new, but have been employed only rarely by workers in nutrition" "The several examples to be given below will further emphasize the broad utility of the principles in the estimation of requirements..."

18. Using the Program Information on using the program is found on the “ Information and Refs. ” page

19. NRM 1.0.xls can fit several models to nutritional response data Broken Line Broken Quadratic Saturation Kinetics Logistics, 3 Parameters Logistics, 4 Parameters Compartmental RNB*, Sigmoidal Model 1 RNB*, Exponential Model 2 *Refers to Models of Robbins, Norton & Baker, 1979. Journal of Nutrition, 109: 1710-1714. See the References for Other Citations.

20. NRM 1.0.xls can fit several models to nutritional response data Broken Line Broken Quadratic Saturation Kinetics Logistics, 3 Parameters Logistics, 4 Parameters Compartmental RNB, Model 1 RNB, Model 2 Each model has a separate spreadsheet in the workbook

21. To use Excel’s Solver Add-In to find the best model, it must be chosen from the Add-Ins menu on the Tools menu.

22. Input / Output data is entered on the Input & Summary page and transferred to the other spreadsheets by pressing the “Copy Data” button.

23. First, clear the old data from the program by pressing the “Clear Data Range” button

24. Then enter your new data, or copy it from another spreadsheet. Then press “Copy Data” to transfer it to the other spreadsheets

25. The new data will be transferred to all the other spreadsheets. This spreadsheet is used to fit the broken line with linear ascending segment model.

26. Follow the instructions that are found in the upper right of each page.

27. The program can try to find a solution from any starting point, but it will improve fitting accuracy if you guess at the parameters for the new data set first

28. The graph on each page shows the data points with the predicted line from the parameters that are entered. In this case the predicted data is from the previous problem.

29. If one of the parameters is changed, the graph will change to show how good the fit is.

30. Guessing that the Maximum (or Plateau) is 1800 and the Requirement is 0.65 improves the fit.

31. Refinements in the parameter estimates (more guesses) make the fit even better

32. Now it’s time to let Excel’s Solver function make the final fit by further adjusting the parameter estimates to minimize the value in cell I9. Press this button.

33. The values that are displayed are the final parameter estimates.

34. The confidence intervals and standard errors of the parameters are calculated when the model is fitted.

35. The standard error of the requirement estimate is especially important. It tells how good the experiment was: a low standard error = good experiment.

36. Repeat the process for the rest of the models. For this data, the exponential Model #1 of Robbins, Norton and Baker was the best fit.

37. A comparison of the models is displayed on the “Input and Summary” window. Although the RNB, Model 1 is the best fit, the others are extremely close.

38. For each model there is also a graph for printing in black and white.

39. When the axes are set to the right scale and titles are added, nice graphs are easy to print.

40. There is also a page that tells when it is appropriate to use Multiple Range Tests to determine nutritional requirements.

41. All of these regression models may be helpful to describe simple input / output relationships to estimate nutrient requirements. The big challenge for producers is to decide whether the requirement is for maximum performance or maximum profits.

42. Even when nutritional requirements are well known, nutritionists don’t necessarily know how much to supplement to feeds. Because of ingredient variability, nutritionists may decide to add a margin of safety to cover the risk of feeding the 50% of feeds that are below average for any nutrient.

43. We hope this program is of value to you. Dmitry Vedenov Gene Pesti The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences